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Rhymes1 PDF
Rhymes1 PDF
for
Babies and Toddlers
Compiled by the staff at the Pewaukee Public Library.
Why Try
Rhymes and Songs?
Rhymes and songs provide a wonderful way for you to bond with your child.
Your child will love being able to spend time with you in this way.
Saying rhymes and singing songs is fun! Your child is naturally drawn to the beat,
and you might be impressed to see how well your child bounces or dances to the
rhythm of a favorite song or rhyme.
Rhymes and songs are great tools for helping your child explore the fun and
beauty of language. The rhythm that your child naturally finds so appealing also
helps your child to hear all of the individual sounds that make up the words. This
is important for helping children learn to speak when they are very young. As they
grow older, it will help them learn to read on their own.
Rhymes and songs allow your child to experience language with many senses. For
example, your child may enjoy a rhyme with his/her ears (hearing), body (moving
or bouncing), and/or with touch (tickles) all at the same time. The more senses a
child uses, the stronger the activity’s impact will be.
We have tried to include a wide variety of different kinds of rhymes and songs in
this collection. We hope that you and your child enjoy trying some of these out
together!
Two little blackbirds sitting on a stick, Five little monkeys jumping on the bed.
One named slow, the other named quick. Hold up five fingers and make them bounce.
Fly away slow! Fly away quick! One fell off and bumped his head.
Come back slow! Come back quick! Tap own/baby’s head.
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
Hold fingers like a telephone.
One, Two, Three, Four, Five “No more monkeys jumping on the bed!”
Shake finger as if scolding.
One, two, three, four, five
Repeat, taking away one finger/monkey each time
Count on fingers
until no more “monkeys” remain.
Once I caught a fish alive.
Clap hands together
Six, seven, eight, nine, ten. Here is a Bunny
Count on other hand
Then I let him go again. Here is a bunny with ears so funny,
Open arms wide Hold up two fingers
Why did you let him go? And here is his hole in the ground.
Hands on hips Make a circle with fingers
Because he bit my finger so. When a noise he hears,
Which finger did he bite? He pricks up his ears,
The little finger on the right. And jumps in his hole in the ground!
Grab and wiggle pinky finger Make your bunny jump into the hole
Action Rhymes
These rhymes are especially great for older toddlers and preschoolers, who will
enjoy doing the actions along with the words.
Pat-A-Cake
The Grand Old Duke of York
Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake,
Baker’s man, Oh, the grand old duke of York,
Bake me a cake as fast as you can. He had ten thousand men;
Clap in rhythm as you say this verse He marched them up to the top of the hill,
March in place
Roll it, and pull it, And he marched them down again.
Roll hands And when they were up, they were up,
And mark it with a “B” Stretch up
Tickle your child’s belly And when they were down, they were down,
And put it in the oven for Baby and me! Crouch
Clap in rhythm And when they were only halfway up,
Bend knees
Feel free to substitute your child’s name for They were neither up nor down.
“baby” in this song when you say this rhyme. Stretch up and crouch low, quickly
Action Songs
These songs are especially great for older toddlers and preschoolers, who will
enjoy doing the actions along with the words.
Head and shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes. This old man, he played two,
Head and shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes. He played knick-knack on my shoe…
Eyes and ears and mouth and nose. This old man, he played three,
Head and shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes! He played knick-knack on my knee…
Point to each body part as you say it. Repeat as many This old man, he played four,
times as desired, doing it faster and faster each time. He played knick-knack on the floor…
Songs
Remember, your child doesn’t care if you have perfect pitch or not. S/he only
cares that you are spending time together. Sing away!
If you’re looking for more great music to listen to, check out a CD of children’s
music from the library. We have lots to choose from!
Rock-a-bye baby, in the treetop. Five little ducks went out one day,
When the wind blows, the cradle will rock. Over the hills and far away.
When the bough breaks, the cradle will fall. Mother duck said, “Quack, quack, quack, quack!”
And down will come baby, cradle and all! But only four little ducks came back.
Four little ducks…
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star Three little ducks…
Two little ducks…
Twinkle, twinkle little star, One little duck…
How I wonder what you are.
Up above the world so high, So sad mother duck went out one day,
Like a diamond in the sky. Over the hills and far away.
Twinkle, twinkle little star, Mother duck said, “Quack, quack, quack, quack!”
How I wonder what you are. And all of the five little ducks came back!